Sierra Leone has used the 69th Meeting of the UN Tourism Commission for Africa (CAF) in Seychelles to formally advance its preparations to host the third edition of the UN Tourism Africa Gastronomy Forum, positioning the country as a key driver of thematic tourism development on the continent.
Led by the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Nabeela Farida Tunis, Sierra Leone’s delegation joined African tourism ministers, senior policymakers, development partners and private sector leaders to engage in high-level deliberations on human capital development, sustainability and tourism’s long-term competitiveness.
The Africa Gastronomy Forum has rapidly grown into a flagship platform within Africa’s tourism ecosystem. The inaugural edition was hosted in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe in 2024, followed by the second forum in Arusha, Tanzania in 2025. Sierra Leone is now preparing to host the third edition, further strengthening West Africa’s role in shaping Africa’s tourism agenda.
Significantly, the upcoming forum will be the first Africa Gastronomy Forum to take place under the leadership of Shaikha Al Nuwais, following her assumption of office as Secretary-General of UN Tourism. This transition adds renewed institutional momentum and strategic focus to the event.
Gastronomy as a Driver of Human Capital
Discussions at CAF placed strong emphasis on human capital development — a central theme that aligns with the gastronomy forum’s objectives. Participants examined workforce readiness, skills development, education-industry alignment and youth inclusion as critical enablers of tourism growth across Africa.
Minister Tunis noted that gastronomy tourism presents a unique opportunity to link culture, agriculture, entrepreneurship and the creative economy, while directly addressing employment and skills development.
“The gastronomy forum is about people as much as it is about food,” she said. “It creates space to elevate chefs, farmers, food producers, young creatives and communities, while positioning African cuisine as a powerful tourism asset.”
Sierra Leone’s hosting vision is expected to prioritise culinary training, local value chain development, women and youth empowerment, and the integration of gastronomy into destination branding and storytelling.
Building on Continental Experience
At CAF, Sierra Leone engaged with UN Tourism officials and fellow Member States to draw lessons from previous host destinations and ensure continuity in the forum’s impact. The country aims to build on the foundations laid in Victoria Falls and Arusha, while introducing a distinctly West African perspective grounded in community-based tourism and culinary heritage.
Broader CAF deliberations addressed tourism resilience, climate adaptation, innovation and skills gaps — reinforcing the relevance of specialised platforms such as the Africa Gastronomy Forum in diversifying Africa’s tourism offering.
Appreciation to Hosts
Minister Tunis expressed appreciation to Seychelles for successfully hosting the CAF meeting and facilitating constructive dialogue among African tourism leaders. She also commended UN Tourism for its continued support in advancing thematic tourism development across the continent.
As preparations intensify, outcomes from the Seychelles CAF meeting are expected to shape the final programme and partnerships for the third Africa Gastronomy Forum, positioning it as a strategic platform for collaboration, skills development and inclusive tourism growth in Africa.
